Lake Shore Drive work closes lanes

March 11, 2009

Repair work on catch basins on the southbound side of Lake Shore Drive on the city's North Side forced lane closures this morning, and will continue to do so until early Thursday morning, officials said.

Work on the catch basins, which drain water from the roadway after storms, was delayed by Tuesday night's rain, causing more daytime lane closures than expected, said Chicago Department of Water Management spokesman Tom LaPorte.

As a result, two lanes remained closed this morning between Belmont and Diversey Avenues as concrete poured overnight was allowed to dry, LaPorte said. One of those lanes was scheduled to be opened by 1 p.m., he said, and all lanes should be open by 5 a.m. Thursday.

Work will also close one lane of the southbound Fullerton Avenue exit ramp until early Thursday morning, though the ramp will remain open.

Catch basins on the northbound side of Lake Shore Drive were repaired last week, but the weather was better then and it wasn't necessary to make rush-hour lane closures, LaPorte said.